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Tulsa’s Ashley Clark Named to American Athletic Conference Preseason Second Team; Hurricane Picked 6th in Preseason Poll
10/26/2015 12:03:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Tulsa guard Ashley Clark was named to the American Athletic Conference preseason all-conference second team, while the team was picked to finish sixth in the Preseason Coaches' Poll, as announced today at the league's media day at the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Orlando.
Clark, a senior from Midwest City, Okla., has started in 65 of 94 games, and has career averages of 11.3 points and 5.8 rebounds. She ranks third in double-doubles (1), seventh in rebounds (549), eighth in field goals made (420), ninth in points (1,069), and 10th in free throws made (190) and assists (209) in school history. In her career, she has posted double-digit points 57 times and double-figure rebounds 13 times. As a junior, Clark had a team-best 14.5 points per game and 7.6 rebounds per game, while leading TU in blocks with 15.
"Ashley is very deserving of being on the all-conference team," Head Coach Matilda Mossman said. "I've seen more of a maturity and a drive about her this year than I have seen in the past. I am looking forward to her leading our team.
In the coaches' poll, UConn was predicted to win the 2015-16 American Athletic Conference Championship, while USF was second and Temple third. East Carolina, Tulane, Tulsa, Memphis, SMU, UCF, Cincinnati and Houston round out the poll.
"Obviously it isn't where you are picked, but where you finish," Mossman said. "It is a huge step up from where were picked in preseason last year and bottom line we think we are better, but every team in the league thinks they are better. I am excited to get started and see how we stack up in the conference because I think so much of the conference race is going to be based on scheduling and who plays who when. We have a rough stretch at the beginning of January, but others will have a rough stretch in other times of the season."
The Golden Hurricane finished third last year in The American, after posting an 18-14 overall record and a 12-6 mark in league play. TU went on to play in the Second Round of the WNIT after falling to Tulane in the quarterfinals of the league tournament.
The 2015-16 campaign begins on Nov. 13, with conference play set to begin on Dec. 30. The 2016 American Women's Basketball Championship is slated for March 4-7 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.
Preseason Player of the Year
Breanna Stewart, UConn, Sr., F *
Preseason All-Conference First Team
Breanna Stewart, UConn, Jr., F *
Moriah Jefferson, UConn, Sr., G *
Courtney Williams, USF, Sr., G *
Morgan Tuck, UConn, Jr., F
Alisia Jenkins, USF, Sr., F
Preseason All-Conference Second Team
Jada Payne, East Carolina, Sr., G/F
Kia Nurse, UConn, So., G
Ashley Clark, Tulsa, Sr., G
Ariel Hearn, Memphis, Sr., G
I'Tiana Taylor, East Carolina, Sr., F
[*] denotes unanimous pick
2015-16 Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. UConn
2. USF
3. Temple
4. East Carolina
5. Tulane
6. Tulsa
7. Memphis
8. SMU
9. UCF
10. Cincinnati
11. Houston
Players Mentioned
G
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